Mike'smeatshop
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Vintage S-K Tools
- Thread starter lzenglish
- Start date
d42jeep
Well-known member
I found this large slotted S-K Tools screwdriver at an estate sale today. It had signs of having a hard life but I did what I could with it. 
-Don
-Don
d42jeep
Well-known member
Even though I don’t collect S-K Wayne tools, I knew that someone would want this nice adjustable wrench. It still has the residual Lectrolite Corp initials. No doubt it wIll figure in a future trade 
-Don
-Don
I have a quick question:
What are the green and white transparent handles (from screwdrivers and drivers) made out of? Is it Cellulose acetate butyrate? (have a couple of 1/4" drivers in my collection - I wonder if they will eventually start smelling...)
If anybody has SK green and white bit driver (without the white cap version) - please let me know how you like it (if you use it) and post a pic or two...
... I do not think I posted this set yet - still waiting to find 11/32 in the wild (SK Wayne socket is replacing it for now...)
What are the green and white transparent handles (from screwdrivers and drivers) made out of? Is it Cellulose acetate butyrate? (have a couple of 1/4" drivers in my collection - I wonder if they will eventually start smelling...)
If anybody has SK green and white bit driver (without the white cap version) - please let me know how you like it (if you use it) and post a pic or two...
... I do not think I posted this set yet - still waiting to find 11/32 in the wild (SK Wayne socket is replacing it for now...)
Outlawmws
Well-known member
What specific marking are you looking for? I may have an extra.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Shelbylex said:
You're looking for a late-production 1/4" drive 11/32" six-point?
I'll look later when I've got light. Too dark out there right now. Not sure if I have any S-K onesie-twosies.
d42jeep
Well-known member
I’ll check my spares too.
-Don
-Don
S-K Tool Fanatic!
Well-known member
I have a bit screwdriver, I really like it, its my go to in the bit screwdriver department.I have a quick question:
What are the green and white transparent handles (from screwdrivers and drivers) made out of? Is it Cellulose acetate butyrate? (have a couple of 1/4" drivers in my collection - I wonder if they will eventually start smelling...)
If anybody has SK green and white bit driver (without the white cap version) - please let me know how you like it (if you use it) and post a pic or two...
... I do not think I posted this set yet - still waiting to find 11/32 in the wild (SK Wayne socket is replacing it for now...)
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I don't know what they used but I just smell tested a couple of mine (While looking for sockets) and no odor?
I call that "two band -SK-" - Sorry no luck outside of a boxed set.
hopefully Don or 4Cycle ahve better luck.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
four.cycle
Well-known member
I do not have any extra 11/32 sockets.
It looks like I have an abundance of 1/4" and 9/32" sockets, however.
S-K and Kraeuter 02/04/24
It looks like I have an abundance of 1/4" and 9/32" sockets, however.
S-K and Kraeuter 02/04/24
Outlawmws
Well-known member
S-K Tool Fanatic!
Well-known member
No, that was just the pic from an ebay lot I bought, that socket is for like pressure sending units in engines.SKTF, does that socket in the last pic fit the driver handle?
I’ll look around for an 11/32”I have a quick question:
What are the green and white transparent handles (from screwdrivers and drivers) made out of? Is it Cellulose acetate butyrate? (have a couple of 1/4" drivers in my collection - I wonder if they will eventually start smelling...)
If anybody has SK green and white bit driver (without the white cap version) - please let me know how you like it (if you use it) and post a pic or two...
... I do not think I posted this set yet - still waiting to find 11/32 in the wild (SK Wayne socket is replacing it for now...)
d42jeep
Well-known member
I believe that I have the correct socket to complete your set. Sorry for the blurry picture. It looks like new.Thank you, Outlawmws
I am looking for this mode (sorry for bad pictures). I am looking for one in great condition though as the rest of the set is almost new (I think majority of the sockets were never used...)
-Don
I had a slightly earlier one as well but that one didn’t look quite like as good a match. The earlier one
Thank you, Don
I will PM you in a second.
Outlawmws, Four.cycle - thank you for checking!!!
... I think it could be a good idea at some point to start the thread of SK sockets - we all have extras and could probably help each other out to complete the sets!
S-K Tool Fanatic! - thank you for posting the bit drivers. I like the shorter one more (one without the cap) - will keep an eye out for one...
I will PM you in a second.
Outlawmws, Four.cycle - thank you for checking!!!
... I think it could be a good idea at some point to start the thread of SK sockets - we all have extras and could probably help each other out to complete the sets!
S-K Tool Fanatic! - thank you for posting the bit drivers. I like the shorter one more (one without the cap) - will keep an eye out for one...
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Kdaniel8601
Well-known member
I finally found a S-K 3/8" drive black oxide socket.
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d42jeep
Well-known member
For some reason, 3/8” drive wartime S-K tools are much harder to find than 1/4” or 1/2” drive tools. Misterbill put together the first wartime 3/8” drive set that I’m familiar with. Here are some pictures of his. 
-Don
-Don
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
At the urging of a fellow collector on here I’m posting this box of wheel knockers I found this weekend. I haven’t seen them before in the wild and I have absolutely no clue if the are uncommon or not. I’m not an sk collector but would trade these for something cool plomb or long c craftsman if someone really wants these
Box appears to have never of had any dividers in it and doesn’t appear to have been repainted ever. Anyone else have these?
Box appears to have never of had any dividers in it and doesn’t appear to have been repainted ever. Anyone else have these?
Oldtuleguy
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I told him about the one in the NOS cardboard box, but I didn't know about the set in a metal box. If you posted that before I missed it. Definitely identical cousins.
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Thanks for posting that. My set is defa bit rougher than yours but very identical other than the sticker. That cardboard box is amazing!
“fellow collector “ sounds way better than “fellow enabler”
I told him about the one in the NOS cardboard box, but I didn't know about the set in a metal box. If you posted that before I missed it. Definitely identical cousins.
Kdaniel8601
Well-known member
I just recieved this empty box I found on eBay that I got because the decal was in good shape.
Mintgrun
Well-known member
I picked up this 1/2" ratchet the other day and then set it back on the shelf, thinking "I don't need another ratchet." Then I thought, "I could have three dollars worth of fun just cleaning it up" and I bought it. The head was full of dried greasy dirt, but very fresh looking once cleaned. I put the guts in the ultrasonic cleaner and the body in the electrolysis bucket, then scrubbed it with a wire brush.
I don't regret buying it. Now, it's a six dollar ratchet!
It is kind of tempting to grind off the last of the chrome (there's not much left) and then sand out the pitting and polish it up; just for the fun of it. If I do a good job, I might wind up with a $12 ratchet.
Cheap entertainment.
Tom
I don't regret buying it. Now, it's a six dollar ratchet!
It is kind of tempting to grind off the last of the chrome (there's not much left) and then sand out the pitting and polish it up; just for the fun of it. If I do a good job, I might wind up with a $12 ratchet.
Cheap entertainment.
Tom
d42jeep
Well-known member
That is an excellent decal and interior paint. Congratulations.I just recieved this empty box I found on eBay that I got because the decal was in good shape.
-Don
Ricky Joe
Well-known member
The WPB was highly invested in obfuscating any efforts for reconversion. Wartime production was 600% of prewar, and by the end of 1943 industries were lobbying for reconversion (the ability to sell to civilian markets). Immediately the military turned its surplus to a shortage on paper in order to remove the justification for reconversion. The politics between the military and civilian agencies such as the WPB and OWM were the unsung battle of the war, and make for interesting reading.
mritchie77
Well-known member
I'm sure it is interesting reading. Was this published in a book or was this everyone at GJ piecing together through many documents?
Ricky Joe
Well-known member
Actually from my own reading and research on World War 2. I read a lot, mostly history and biography, and war is history. So I have hundreds of books on especially American wars, but also many of the wars that helped form the twentieth century. My focus was not specifically on tool production during the war, per se, as it was on the to me very interesting politics of the war, and the efforts to stifle the move towards reconversion by military contractors who benefited from continued war is just a small ancillary part of that. I can give you references if you have the same interests, but probably best through private messages.
mritchie77
Well-known member
Ricky, sure go ahead and send some recommendations through PM. I have an entire library of Civil War, WWI and WWII books, some very niche. One of the last things I read was a large volume published in the 50's that covered the entire foreign currency and transaction difficulties the Army faced during the war. I'm a finance officer in the guard so it was pretty interesting as a lot of the structure we still use today was established during wartime.
Kdaniel8601
Well-known member
I never realized untill today that S-K made two different 17" long 1/2" drive breaker bars untill I recieved the one in the bottom of the picture today. According to Alloy Artifacts the earlier production of the 41653 flex-head handle used a hefty 9/16 diameter cross-bar, and the hole was equipped with a detent ball. By 1957 the 41653 flex handles were using a 7/16 diameter cross-bar and no longer provided a detent ball. The cross-bar model number remained the same (41650) despite the change of specifications.
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d42jeep
Well-known member
Nice find. It looks like that crossbar is slightly larger than the 3/8” diameter 40250 shown in your catalog 649. All of my crossbars for my 41653 flex handles are 9/16”. Another one to look for.
These arrived in a partial Plomb 1/4” drive set yesterday. I rarely see the 1/4” drive Chrome Vanadium STEEL marked sockets.
-Don
These arrived in a partial Plomb 1/4” drive set yesterday. I rarely see the 1/4” drive Chrome Vanadium STEEL marked sockets.
-Don
Kdaniel8601
Well-known member
I found the crossbar listed in the 1958 catalog.
d42jeep
Well-known member
I found this somewhat rusty box on eBay recently and added some appropriate sockets I had on hand to make up a complete set. It will probably get some further cleanup and exterior paint down the road 
-Don
-Don
NoahG
Well-known member
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Is that a real PN, or did someone make that? I've only ever seen one 3/8 drive spinner - in any brand - and its a super old SO shank in a unuque 2 handed handle. - Yes I bought it...
Oldtuleguy
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There is a 3/8 drive spinner thread here somewhere
Mintgrun
Well-known member
Looks like it's the real deal. Based on having found a photo of another one online.
(which happened to come from the GJ classifieds https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/sk-tools.326306/ )
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Interesting! Something to watch for:
My Non SK version, but one of my favorites I aquired - Its a SO 3/8 extension made into a two fisted spinner/driver. I don't use it often, but its a joy to use - It's also a very fine build as I'm certsin its shop made not mass produced:
How do I know it's SO based? that "n" is the last n of Snap-On:
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I'l have to see how good my search is...
Mintgrun
Well-known member
Gotta be quick!
www.garagejournal.com
3/8" Socket Spinners!
It came up in discussion that, while I have a few of these, not everyone does. I find them to be quite handy, as a lot of what I work on mechanically is more than adequetly served by what is essentially a nut driver. Now, I love nut drivers and tend to use them much more than any 1/4" socket...
www.garagejournal.com